Remotely Controlled and Monitored Followspot

ABSTRACT

A remote follow spot system includes a remote controller that has separately movable parts that are movable in two orthogonal directions, and a display attached to one of said two separately movable parts. The display receives a video feed from a controlled light, that is controlled to move in the same directions as remote controller. The display hence shows the field of view where the light is pointing. In this way, an operator of the follow spot can control the light without physically being near the light.

This application claims priority from provisional application No.62/190,063, filed Jul. 8, 2015, the entire contents of which areherewith incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Manually controlled follow spots have conventionally been controlled byan operator adjacent to the light, manually moving the light usinghandles on the light. When the light is hung in a truss above the stage,the follow spot operator has also conventionally been seated in thetruss. The operator manually moves the light to point the follow spot tofollow a performer or item. FIG. 1 illustrates operators also sitting inthe truss carrying out the manual control.

The conventional system has a number of drawbacks. It requires oneoperator per spot. Operators need special training to sit in the truss.It is dangerous for the operator to be high in the truss, and hencespecial safety precautions are necessary. It is also difficult orimpossible for the operators to take breaks during the show. A largeamount of space is required for the light and the operators. The trussneeds to be designed to handle the weight of the lights and of theoperators.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a remotely controlled and monitoredfollow spot controller, which can be located remote from the followspot, e.g., on the ground when the follow spot is in the truss and/or ata remote location that is remote from the controller. The controller ismoved by the operator. Movements of the controller are monitored bymovement encoding devices which translate the movement into electronicsignals that are sent to control a pan and tilt controllable light. Themovement encoding devices can be devices that produce digital outputsindicative of an amount of angular movement, e.g. a digital encoder, apotentiometer with A/D converter or other. A camera monitors the fieldof view that is seen by the light. In one embodiment, that camera isattached to the light in order to move with the light. The controllerincludes a video screen or screens which views the scene that is seenfrom the light, as the light is moved by movements of the controller. Apreferred embodiment of the remote controller operates to control theposition of pointing of the light, as well as other parameters of thelight, such as the width of its beam or other characteristics of itsbeam, using an intuitive control which can use the same motions thatwould be used to move the body of a manually-controlled follow spot. Byusing this control, any operator who is familiar with controlling usinga manual follow spot can control using this electronic remote device.

An aspect receives real-time video into the controller from a camera,e.g., that is mounted on the light, and displays the video on thecontroller. That same remote controller is also movable to allow movingthe light to different positions. The video display screen is attachedto the remote controller, and hence movement of the remote controllercauses the location on the video-display screen to correspondingly moveas the camera attached to the light moves, the field-of-view shown bythe camera correspondingly moves.

In another embodiment, there can be multiple screens or multiple windowson a single video screen, showing different fields of view, e.g.,different resolution or size videos.

The camera can also be mounted separate from the light, in anotherembodiment.

Another aspect describes an auto exposure system in the camera, thatoperates to compensate for significantly varying lighting conditions.Another embodiment uses, an infra-red or other motion detection systemsuch as RF tracking, to enable tracking and other functions in lowlighting conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional Followspot system with operators manuallyholding handles of followspots while sitting in the truss is adjacentthe followspots;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment, showing thecontroller, the controlled light, and the ancillary parts;

FIG. 3A-3E show different views of the controller;

FIG. 4 shows a view of the controller and how it has two parts whichpivot in different directions;

FIG. 5 shows the controller pivoted to an additional direction and showshow the display screen can be pivoted to be viewable in this differentdirection;

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the controller;

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the system;

FIG. 8A-8C show an alternate embodiment of the controller; and

FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment where the camera is separate fromthe light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments describe a remotely controlled and monitored follow spotcontroller and system. Control of the light is carried out from anylocation, but most preferably from a location on the ground, remote fromthe light. A key advantage of this remote follow spot system includesthat it allows an operator to control a follow spot without being in adangerous location such as high above the show venue in a truss. Anotheradvantage is that this can be used in places where traditional orconventional follow spots cannot be used.

FIG. 1 shows how follow spots have historically been operated. The spotsare located in a truss, far above the stage. Each of the spots such as100 has handles 105 that allow manually moving the spot. Each spot alsohas an operator 120 who holds the spot and moves it manually to followthe desired moving item on the stage. For example, the spots can be usedto follow a moving performer, with the operator manually watching theperformer, watching the location of the output of their spot andmanually moving the spot.

This remotely controlled followspot system allows controlling theposition of a remote light, while watching an image of the actual sceneilluminated by the light. As the light is moved, the field-of-view thatis illuminated by the light also changes. This provides video which canbe displayed to an operator as feedback about where the light ispointing.

A camera is used to obtain a real time video image of the scene beingilluminated by the light. In order to minimize bandwidth and complexity,alternatives such as stop motion video, or images taken at intervals canbe used in place of video.

A first embodiment describes using a touchscreen tablet, such as aniPad, to control the moving position of the light. In this embodiment,the user can view the image seen by the camera on the screen of theipad. As the light moves, the illuminated image moves, which can be seenon the screen.

The user can move their finger on the touchscreen in order to move theposition of pointing of the light. The display screen converts movementof the finger on the display into a light controlling protocol, such asDMX, and sends that command to the remote light. For example, when theoperator moves his or her finger up on the screen, this is converted toa signal indicative of move the light up, and sent to the light. Thelight correspondingly moves up, and the real-time video then shows thelight pointing at a different or illuminating a different location.Similarly, the user can move their finger left to right in order to panthe light, or any other combination.

The inventors, however, found that a disadvantage of this system is thatit is hard to use. An operator who is accustomed to moving a manuallycontrollable Followspot system needs to learn to move their finger justthe right way on the screen. In addition, it was found that holding theuser's finger on the screen may cover a portion of the screen that theoperator needs to see in order to properly control the light. Removingthe finger from the screen, however, causes the light to stop moving.

Another embodiment, described herein, forms the controller from a dualaxis movable device. In one embodiment described herein, the controllerhas the same basic shape as the Followspot itself, with handles inlocations which are analogous to those that they would be on a manuallycontrolled Followspot.

A key advantage of this embodiment, using a controller that is shaped tomimic a dual axis movable light, includes that it provides an intuitiveground-based control for a follow spot that allows an operator tooperate a follow spot without being in a dangerous location such as highabove the show venue in a truss. Another advantage is that this can beused in places where traditional or conventional follow spot cannot beused. Yet another advantage is that since an intuitive control is used,experienced operators can control using the ground-based controller,without significant or any training.

The remote control according to an embodiment can be located anywhere,and is preferably located on the ground, allowing a remote luminaire,e.g., a truss-mounted luminaire, to be controlled via the dedicatedcontroller that is on the ground. The controller is movable. Movement ofthe controller causes the fixture to move. The fixture as controlledbecomes able to be controlled based on a remote control that can belocated distant from the light, thus preventing the necessity to put theoperator in the truss.

This system provides significant advantages. It provides lightingdesigners with total creative freedom to put followspots in places thatwere either previously unusable or involved complex rigging. With theRemote Followspot System, the operator is on the ground so the physicalfootprint of the fixture can be smaller, and need not have an area orspace for the operator. In one embodiment, the fixture is 30 inchesround and weighs only 172 lbs. Because of this small footprint and lowweight, fixtures can be placed in a wide variety of positions. Forexample, these remotely controllable followspot lights can be put onbalcony rails or on box booms in a theater. The lights can be yoked outover a video wall instead of hanging in front of the wall, which couldpotentially block viewing access to the video wall. Lights can be hungon box trusses in low trim venues like convention centers and hotelballrooms. Lights can be ground supported on a lift or a truss tower.Lights can be hung in a theater on a system pipe in a counter weight flysystem. Lights can be placed on the floor of a stage to follow overheadflying.

An embodiment uses a remote controller that is shaped like a miniaturelight yoke. The controller is moved in the same way that the light yokewould have been moved, and those movements are translated into movementsof the light. This control is hence an intuitive control station thatmimics the typical form factor and familiarity of a traditionalfollowspot. This enables both experienced and novice users to use theRemote followspot Controller with minimal instruction and totalconfidence. The Remote followspot Controller has a monitor on the movingyoke whose movements are sent to and mimicked by the Remote Spot in theair. Hence, the view seen through the monitor follows the view thatwould be seen if the operator were on the truss operating the light.

A first embodiment describes a movable follow spot controller to createoutputs to control a standard theatrical automated luminaire, and toreceive video signals from a camera mounted on the same light. Thecontrols can be produced in DMX, Artnet, or sACN for example, and realtime video is received. Any theatrical automated fixture which can haveits pointing direction moved in pan and tilt directions based on remotecontrols; and can have its lighting characteristics modified based onelectronic commands, can be used. A first embodiment modifies anexisting fixture for these purposes.

Another embodiment describes a purpose built fixture, which has all ofthese features built in.

In one embodiment, the fixture uses CMY color mixing, and is furtheroptimized for followspot work by having two dedicated color correctionwheels, a CTO, and a CTB wheel. The color correction wheels includefilters for controlling a “color” of output light.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram showing an embodiment, where thatembodiment covers both the purpose-built fixture and the retrofitfixture. In the purpose built fixture, the electronics to carry out manyof these functions are built into the light. In another embodiment, aTruss box is used, which is remote from the light, but communicates withthe light, and carries out many of the functions needed for the remoteconnection. This embodiment uses a controller which is physicallyseparated from the light fixture 200, which is a remotely controlled panand tilt controllable lighting fixture, having a lighting head 205 thatis movable in pan and tilt direction on a yoke 210. A truss attachmentand electronics module 215 receives both power, and remote controlsignals including signals in formats of DMX, RS-485, SDI, Artnet, sACN,SAC and and/or RS-485, more generally can be any form of networkprotocol including ethernet. The controller is mounted on the ground,while the light is mounted on a truss, in one embodiment. The controllercontrols all light parameters via standard communication protocol, via acontrol signal sent from the controller to the light. The light, on theother hand, includes a camera mounted on the light which sends backvideo signals to the operator to view the light aiming or to project theimage in real time, or delayed. The movement of the light mimics themovement of the controller as if operating a conventional spotlight. Atthe same time, the movement of that light is reflected in the videoscreen which is mounted on the light.

These signals can be routed by wires 219 via truss box 220, for examplewhen the fixture is mounted on a truss above a performance. The signalscan be routed using ethernet wires, fiberoptic, or Alternatively, thesignals can be sent wirelessly, for example.

The fixture 200 also includes cameras 225 and 226 that are attached tothe lighting head 205, to move in conjunction with the moving of thelighting head. The cameras receive the same field of view that would beseen from the fixture. The output of the camera 225 is coupled into theelectronics module 215, and images and/or video received by the cameramay be returned over the SDI interface. Alternatively, any other videoprotocol can be used, including DVI, HDMI, AVI signals, compressed videosuch as divx, mpeg and matroska, or any other format.

Another embodiment described herein, includes the cameras locatedadjacent the fixture rather than on the fixture. The cameras can alsoinclude pan and tilt capability, and are moved in directions that mimicsthe movement to the fixture.

Yet another embodiment, uses cameras that are not movable, and whichobtain a view of the entire scene being controlled. These cameras, forexample, can be used to monitor many different lights, since theoperator who views the camera output can see the position of each lighton the scene.

In one embodiment, the camera output can be color-coded to indicatewhich light is which, for example each spot can be color-coded by thecomputer to indicate its origin.

In one embodiment, more than one camera is used. One of the cameras 225provides a wide field of view and another of the cameras 226 provides amagnified narrow field of view. The cameras thus provide a real timevideo feed that is shown on the display screen 245 of the controller. Inanother embodiment, a single camera is used.

In one embodiment, the cable 219 is a fiber-optic cable between theremote follow spot controller 240 and the fixture 200. Of course, othernetwork connections can be used.

The feed from the video cameras is displayed on video display 245 whichis located adjacent the remote controller 250 and is preferably attachedto a moveable part of the controller, so that the video screen moves asthe controller is moved.

Manually controlled follow spots often use an externally mountedsite/reticle, such as a “Telrad” device. However, this device can use anelectronic annotation on the screen in order to carry out the radicalfunction. In this embodiment,

An adjustable targeting reticle can be overlaid on the video image inorder to assist with aiming. The targeting reticle can be moved by theoperator, to any location on the video screen. For example, thetargeting reticle can be maintained on an actors head for example, andthe operator tries to move the controller in order to maintain thereticle at the proper location. The operator can also move the locationof the reticle on the screen, thereby keeping the target in a desiredlocation relative to the spot. As shown, the remote controller 250 inthis embodiment is generally in the shape of a yoke 210 of a movinglight. The yoke on the controller has a generally U-shaped yoke part 255similar in form to the yoke 210 of the follow spot fixture. The yoke 250is movable in the same way that the yoke 210 on the fixture would bemovable should an operator be located in the truss. The controller alsohas a simulated lighting head 260, that is also movable and is similarto the lighting head 205 on the fixture. The yoke 255 and head 260 ofthe remote controller are movable by an operator, in the same way theoperator would move the actual head of a follow spot.

Movement of the controller in two dimensions is monitored by pan andtilt movement encoding devices. These movement encoding devices can beencoders or Any other device that encodes movement into a signal.Exemplary versions of these devices can include a potentiometer whoseoutput is connected to an A/D converter. Another example can be apiezoelectric encoder that encodes the movement into a signal, and thatsignal again can be A/D converted. Any device which converts movementinto an electronic signal can be used as the movement encoding device.The movement is translated by the electronics 265 into a control signal,e.g., in DMX, Artnet, RDM, ACN or sACN or any other lighting controlformat, either known or custom created, that is sent to the follow spotfixture 200. Moving the remote 250 thus causes the light 200 tocorrespondingly move. The movement causes the scene obtained by thecamera(s) 225, 226 to change. The video from these cameras is sent backto the controller 250 and displayed on the screen 245 of the controller250. Therefore, as the operator moves the lights, that operator sees inreal time, the movement of the scene of the light on the screen 245.

One problem recognized by the inventors of the present invention is thatthe conditions of a show of this type can vary quickly between blackoutand well lit conditions. The human eye is very good at adjustingquickly, but cameras less so. In one embodiment, at least one of thecameras 225 includes an automatic exposure control 224 that irises upand down quickly in order to quickly adjust for varying lightingconditions. The exposure control can be an iris. In another embodimentthe exposure control can be electronically operable, such as anelectronic blooming control. The exposure control can be adjusted by auser using the controls described herein, or can be automaticallycontrolled based on a sensor that detects the amount of illumination.

The cameras also are manually and or automatically focused.

Another embodiment provides cameras 225, 226 that are able to zoom inand out based on a control signal from either the controller 250 and/ora separate lighting console 280 that is connected.

In another embodiment, an infrared illumination source 228 can be usedto aid in both targeting and illumination during black out conditions.For example, a thermal imaging camera can be used for targeting duringcompletely black conditions.

All control signals from the controller and video from the fixturetravel either on a single and/or multicore fiberoptic cable and ormultiple control cables. Multiple controllers and fixtures are thus ableto reside on a single network.

A Designer Remote station includes a preview monitor 270 that displaysthe video feeds from one or more controllers 250, and a console 280. Theconsole can be used to control many of these functions, including, forexample, exposure control.

The console can carry out many functions, but in one embodiment, theconsole assigns which lighting parameters are controllable by the remotecontroller, and which are controlled by the console. The console may beable to take control of any or all lighting parameters. For example, anoperator of console 280 may dim some of the lights in the show; forexample the console needs to dim 10 of the lights or all of the lightsor some other subset. The console takes control of those 10 lights fordimming. During this time, the controllers 250 for the respective tenlights may still be controlling the pan and tilt position of thoselights. The console dims those 10 lights. When finished, the console maytransfer dimming control back to the respective controllers 250.

There are also intuitive controls for Intensity, Iris, Zoom, Frost andEdge as well as buttons that can be used for color and beam presets. TheFollowspot Controller also has an on board touch screen for easyaddressing, configuring, and diagnostics. The whole Controller sits on arobust adjustable tripod and has PowerCon in and through, XLR 5pin inand through, as well as a BNC that outputs video in any desired format.The Video out is a direct feed from the camera on the Remote Spot andgives designers the added flexibility to use the feed for otherfunctions, such as routing to an LD Followspot Preview Monitor, orothers.

The remote movable controller 300, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 3A,3B and 3C, is in the shape of an ergonomic yoke that has handles 371 and372 that allow the remote movable controller to be manually moved by anoperator, with the first handle 371 movable to push the pointingposition up and down, and the second handle 372 movable from side toside. The user can receive instant feedback on the screen 371, whichshows a video of the pointing position of the light as its movement iscontrolled. The controller also has controls to control multiplefunctions including Intensity, Beam, Color and Gobos commonly found inTheatrical Automated Luminaires.

The controller has several control modes. The first mode is fully manualin which all functions are controlled locally by the operator. Thesecond mode is Semi-Manual. In this semi-manual mode, the local operatoronly has control of limited functions such as pan and tilt. A lightingconsole 280, via a DMX512, Artnet, and or sACN link, controls all otherfunctions. A third Mode is Target mode. In this mode a lighting consolepre aims the Pan & Tilt helping a local operator with aiming and pickingup an artist or desired object to be illuminated. Once the fixture hasbeen pre aimed, all functions are controlled locally by the operator whois holding the lamp controller 300.

FIG. 3A shows the yoke controller 300 connected to video screen 310 thatshows the real-time video from the pointed-at direction of the fixture.The yoke portion 320 can be pivoted side to side in order to controlchanging the pan direction of the light. Similarly, the head portion 325can be moved up and down to control changing tilt direction of thelight.

FIG. 3B shows a side view of the controller. The body of the controller325 is moved side to side and up and down to cause correspondingmovement of the light.

FIG. 3C shows a top view. The controller can also include a touchscreencontroller/monitor 350 which also indicates the amount of certainparameters. The touchscreen controller 350 is shown in further detail inFIG. 3D. Touchscreen controller 350 in FIG. 3D provides details aboutthe light.

The indicator shows different parameters, described herein. Intensity ofthe light output 356 is shown as a percentage. Iris amount 357 is alsoshown as a percentage. A fader 358 on the side of the controller allowsthe operator to manually control the amount of iris closure. The iriscan also be automatic. Alternatively, other exposure control structurecan be used in place of the iris.

There is also a dimmer control encoder 359. As can be seen, the dimmercontrol encoder 359 is set at its full on position in FIG. 3D, thuscausing the intensity to show as full on.

A zoom control 360 can also be used which provides the amount of zoomindicated on the screen as 361. Similarly, an edge control 362 isindicated on the screen as 363. The screen 355 also shows informationabout the light including the number of the light 370 and its status371. This can be configured via selecting the configuration screen 372.

Additional controls 375 are also located at the bottom and of the sideof the yoke. A detail of these controls is shown in FIG. 3E. Thesecontrols include, for example, camera iris 377, day/night control 376,and camera zoom 378 amounts.

In night vision mode, the IR tracker can track the desired spot on thestage e.g. a performer in low light conditions. The camera iris can beused to prevent being “blown out” when the light comes on quickly. Thenight vision mode enables operators to pick up a performer on avirtually black stage. The controls also include a targeting reticle.

FIGS. 4-6 show an alternative embodiment of the controller. In FIG. 4,the simulated yoke 400 can be twisted, and the simulated head 410 can bemoved up and down, thus allowing pan and tilt controls. Both of thesecontrols are controlled by the handles. Handle 415 is pressed up anddown to control up and down movement of the simulated light head, theso-called tilt of the light head. The handle 416 is used to control sideto side movement of the yoke 400, so-called pan of the light head. Boththe handles are located on the simulated light head, but can be used tocontrol both pan and tilt. That in this embodiment, the tilt moves thesimulated light head 410, but the pan moves the simulated yoke 400. Inthis embodiment, both handles are on the simulated light head, but eachhandle moves a different movable structure.

The operator can move the light head to multiple different positions.The monitor 420 shows the view that is seen by the light via the camera.The monitor 420 is hinged to the simulated head by a hinge 421. In thisway, as the head moves, the monitor 421 can also be moved so that theoperator can see the field-of-view of the light.

FIG. 5 shows a different position of the controller, and how when thesimulated lighting head is moved, the monitor can be hinged so that theoperator can still see the field of view of the light.

FIG. 6 shows the controller from above, showing the simulated head andmonitor. The simulated yoke is placed on a support 600 that supports thelighting parts and their movements. That support can be located on atripod.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing the connectionsbetween the different parts of the system. The controller 399corresponds to the parts of the device that are movable. A pan encoder701 and a tilt encoder 702 encode the pan and tilt movements caused bymoving the controller. The controls 705, including buttons, fader andmovement encoders are also acquired by the data acquiring unit 710. Thecontrols are processed by the main controller board 720 which may be aprocessor board. All of the controls processed by the processor board720 are sent to the controller base 725 that encodes the data from thecontroller into signals in a format to control the movement of the light760.

The controller base 725 includes connections for control including a DMX(or other format) connection 728, an SDI or other format connection 729as well as an optical connection 730. The DMX and SDI, for example, cango to an external monitor, while the optical input is connected to thecamera in the controller via a connection 731 which can be for example aCat 5, or Cat 6 connection or a coax connection or a multicore opticalconnection.

The data to and from the lamp is sent from the optical connection 730over a fiber, e.g., a quad fiber.

The truss mounted box 750 interfaces to the fiber to exchangeinformation with the controlled lamp 760. This can include the fixtureDMX control 761, which is sent to the lamp to control the pan and tiltmovement of the lamp by the movement of the remote control. The cameraoutput (e.g., video) 762 is also received from the lamp, and passed tothe monitor in the controller. In one embodiment, the truss box canreceive controls on the fiber, and output DMX to control the lamp, andRS-485 to control the camera. Video from the High Definition Cameramounted on the fixture outputs HD-SDI in this embodiment at 1080i thatenables the operator on the ground to see the stage from the same pointof view as if the operator was sitting right next to the fixture. Thetruss box can also supply power for the camera.

Another embodiment describes the purpose built fixture intended for useentirely with the follow spot controller. In addition to CMY colormixing, this Remote Spot has been further optimized for followspot workby having two dedicated color correction wheels, a CTO, and a CTB Wheel.Both wheels are loaded up with a wide variety of color correctionoptions. The CTO Wheel in one embodiment includes:

Minus Green filter

⅛ CTO

¼ CTO

½ CTO

¾ CTO

Full CTO.

The CTB Wheel is loaded with:

Minus Green filter

⅛ CTB

¼ CTB

½ CTB

¾ CTB

Full CTB.

Having CMY Color mixing along with the CTO and CTB wheels givesdesigners the ultimate in flexibility to dial in and tune the RemoteSpot to their exact needs.

In another embodiment, the CTO and CTB are variable wheels and not justfixed filters.

FIG. 8 a-8C show an alternative embodiment of the controller, from threedifferent angles. The controller body 800 includes a display screen 805connected thereto by a hinge 810. The hinge enables the screen 805 to bemoved in any desired way depending on the movement of the body. The bodycan be moved in orthogonal directions, including up and down to tilt andside to side to pan. The body includes handles 820, 825 which enableholding the body in order to move it. The body is physically mounted ona control box or mounted on the whatever that connects to a control boxthat is mounted on a tripod assembly 845. The control box 840 mayinclude all the electrical connections such as 841 which enable cancommunication with the remote light. FIG. 8C shows the view from aboveincluding the touchscreen controller 850, as well as other controls 855.

According to an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, the camera 900is physically separate from the light 905, with the control line 910interfacing to a truss box 915 that provides pan and tilt controlsignals for the camera 900. That truss box also provides the signalincluding control and power 922 the light itself. In this embodiment,the video signal shown is 911 comes from the truss box received from thelight, and need not be received from the light itself. 910 and 911 areshown as two different wires, however this may be on the same physicalwire connection.

Other embodiments are intended to be encompassed within the invention.Moreover, the in invention is intended to include additional featuressuch as processors, memory, and software. In one embodiment, thesoftware of an existing fixture 205 is modified. In another embodiment,software is used which in essence hacks into the existing fixture inorder to cause the fixture to react to the commands from the remotecontroller.

The controller is shown to have specified shapes and sizes, howeverother controller shapes can be used. Preferably, the controller iscapable of movement in pan and tilt directions, to create the mostintuitive control.

An embodiment described herein includes the display screen attached tothe controller to move with the controller as the controller is moved tocontrol the light. However in another embodiment, the display screen canbe separate from the controller.

As described herein, multiple lights can be controlled with a singlecontroller. A single controller can select which of multiple lights tocontrol in one embodiment. The controller can also control multiplelights at the same time. In one embodiment, this control of the multiplelights may cause all of the multiple controlled lights to pointparallel. The operator can select one of the lights, for example themid-most one for example, and control that one, causing the other lightsto point parallel to that one light. In another embodiment, the operatoror the console can program information about the locations of thedifferent lights, causing each of those different lights to point at acommon location. The operator controls one of the lights, while theothers of the lights control are controlled to point at a commonpointing location, based on the single control.

In another embodiment, the controller includes software thatautomatically identifies an image of a target within the video. Forexample, that target could be a person or some other moving item. Thesoftware then attempts to find this target in further video that isreceived by the controlled luminaire. As the target moves, the softwareautomatically moves the luminaire to keep that target within the centerof the video screen. In this way, the target is automatically trackedwithout the operator's intervention.

Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above,other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to beencompassed within this specification. The specification describescertain technological solutions to solve the technical problems that aredescribed expressly and inherently in this application. This disclosuredescribes embodiments, and the claims are intended to cover anymodification or alternative or generalization of these embodiments whichmight be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, computer software running on a specific purposemachine that is programmed to carry out the operations described in thisapplication, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate thisinterchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrativecomponents, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been describedabove generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the exemplary embodiments.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein, may be implementedor performed with a general or specific purpose processor, or withhardware that carries out these functions, e.g., a Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), aField Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor can be partof a computer system that also has an internal bus connecting to cardsor other hardware, running based on a system BIOS or equivalent thatcontains startup and boot software, system memory which providestemporary storage for an operating system, drivers for the hardware andfor application programs, disk interface which provides an interfacebetween internal storage device(s) and the other hardware, an externalperipheral controller which interfaces to external devices such as abackup storage device, and a network that connects to a hard wirednetwork cable such as Ethernet or may be a wireless connection such as aRF link running under a wireless protocol such as 802.11. Likewise,external bus 18 may be any of but not limited to hard wired externalbusses such as IEEE-1394 or USB. The computer system can also have auser interface port that communicates with a user interface, and whichreceives commands entered by a user, and a video output that producesits output via any kind of video output format, e.g., VGA, DVI, HDMI,display port, or any other form. This may include laptop or desktopcomputers, and may also include portable computers, including cellphones, tablets such as the IPAD™ and Android platform tablet, and allother kinds of computers and computing platforms.

A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computingdevices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a pluralityof microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with aDSP core, or any other such configuration. These devices may also beused to select values for devices as described herein.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theembodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, using cloud computing, or incombinations. A software module may reside in Random Access Memory(RAM), flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically ProgrammableROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers,hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of tangiblestorage medium that stores tangible, non-transitory computer basedinstructions. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processorsuch that the processor can read information from, and write informationto, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may beintegral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium mayreside in reconfigurable logic of any type.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computerstorage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media may be any available media that can be accessed by acomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readablemedia can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed bya computer.

The memory storage can also be rotating magnetic hard disk drives,optical disk drives, or flash memory based storage drives or other suchsolid state, magnetic, or optical storage devices. Also, any connectionis properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if thesoftware is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote sourceusing a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio,and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media. The computer readable media can be an articlecomprising a machine-readable non-transitory tangible medium embodyinginformation indicative of instructions that when performed by one ormore machines result in computer implemented operations comprising theactions described throughout this specification.

Operations as described herein can be carried out on or over a web site.The website can be operated on a server computer, or operated locally,e.g., by being downloaded to the client computer, or operated via aserver farm. The website can be accessed over a mobile phone or a PDA,or on any other client. The website can use HTML code in any form, e.g.,MHTML, or XML, and via any form such as cascading style sheets (“CSS”)or other.

The computers described herein may be any kind of computer, eithergeneral purpose, or some specific purpose computer such as aworkstation. The programs may be written in C, or Java, Brew or anyother programming language. The programs may be resident on a storagemedium, e.g., magnetic or optical, e.g. the computer hard drive, aremovable disk or media such as a memory stick or SD media, or otherremovable medium. The programs may also be run over a network, forexample, with a server or other machine sending signals to the localmachine, which allows the local machine to carry out the operationsdescribed herein.

Also, the inventors intend that only those claims which use the words“means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112, sixthparagraph. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intendedto be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expresslyincluded in the claims.

Where a specific numerical value is mentioned herein, it should beconsidered that the value may be increased or decreased by 20%, whilestill staying within the teachings of the present application, unlesssome different range is specifically mentioned. Where a specifiedlogical sense is used, the opposite logical sense is also intended to beencompassed.

The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments isprovided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use thepresent invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodimentswill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown hereinbut is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principlesand novel features disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control system operating for controlling atleast one remotely-located pan and tilt controllable luminaire,comprising: a controller, the controller having a controlling part thatreceives movements to control the luminaire, the controller being remotefrom the luminaire, and where the controller recognizes a first movementfor controlling a movement of the luminaire in a first panningdirection, a second movement for controlling movement of the luminairein a second panning direction opposite to the first panning direction, athird movement for controlling a movement of the luminaire in a firsttilting direction, and a fourth movement for controlling movement of theluminaire in a second tilting direction opposite to the first tiltingdirection, the controller having a network connection, connected to anetwork to which the at least one remotely-located pan and tiltcontrollable luminaire is also connected, the controller creatingelectrical outputs on the network connection indicative of the firstmovement, second movement, third movement and fourth movement from thecontrolling part, the controller having a light parameter controller,that receives controls from a user that control parameters of output ofthe luminaire, said controls which are received including at least acontrol for brightness of the luminaire, and produces outputs over thenetwork connection indicative of the parameters of output of theluminaire from the light parameter controller; and a display partreceiving video information that shows a display including a positionwhich the luminaire is illuminating, and where the display part isadjacent to the controller and can be viewed from a same perspectivefrom which the controller is accessible, the display part changing toshow a corresponding movement of the luminaire as the controlling partis moved, and to show a brightness change of output of the luminairebased on said controls from said light parameter controller.
 2. Thesystem as in claim 1, wherein said controller also includes controls toselect which of multiple lights to control.
 3. The system as in claim 1,wherein said controller also includes controls to select multipledifferent luminaires to control using the same controlling partincluding at least a first luminaire and a second luminaire using thesame controlling part to control at least said first luminaire andsecond luminaire, and where said the first movement, second movement,third movement and fourth movement from the controlling part control allof the multiple different luminaires, including at least the firstluminaire and the second luminaire after the controls are used to selectthe multiple different luminaires.
 4. The system as in claim 1, whereinthe controller is shaped to have a yoke shaped portion that is movableand a head shaped portion which is movable relative to the yoke.
 5. Thesystem as in claim 4, wherein the display part is attached to the headshaped portion and moves as the head shaped portion is moved.
 6. Thesystem as in claim 1, wherein the control outputs are in an Artnetformat over the network connection, and the outputs are connected to thepan and tilt controlled luminaire to move the luminaire in directionsthat are based on the first movement, second movement, third movementand fourth movement from the controlling part.
 7. The system as in claim1, further comprising a camera, and wherein the display part receivesvideo from the camera.
 8. A method of using a computer based device forcontrolling at least one remotely-located pan and tilt controllableluminaire, comprising: Receiving movements from a user on a controllingpart that is remote from the luminaire, Recognizing a first movement onthe controlling part for controlling a movement of the luminaire in afirst panning direction, Recognizing a second movement on thecontrolling part for controlling movement of the luminaire in a secondpanning direction opposite to the first panning direction, Recognizing athird movement on the controlling part for controlling a movement of theluminaire in a first tilting direction, Recognizing a fourth movement onthe controlling part for controlling movement of the luminaire in asecond tilting direction opposite to the first tilting direction, thecontroller producing outputs over a network connection, connected to anetwork to which the at least one remotely-located pan and tiltcontrollable luminaire is also connected, said outputs indicative of thefirst movement, second movement, third movement and fourth movement fromthe controlling part and commanding the luminaire to move in directionsthat are based on the first movement, second movement, third movementand fourth movement from the controlling part, receiving commands from alight parameter controller to control parameters of output of theluminaire including at least brightness of the luminaire, and producingoutputs over the network connection indicative of the parameters ofoutput of the luminaire from the light parameter controller; andreceiving video information that shows a display including a positionwhich the luminaire is illuminating, and displaying the videoinformation, to the user to show a display that is changing to show acorresponding movement of the luminaire as the controlling part ismoved, and to show a brightness change of output of the luminaire basedon said controls from said light parameter controller.
 9. The method asin claim 8, further comprising using a control to select which ofmultiple lights to control.
 10. The method as in claim 8, furthercomprising using a control to select multiple different luminaires tocontrol using the same controlling part including at least controlling afirst luminaire and a second luminaire using the same controlling part,and where said the first movement, second movement, third movement andfourth movement from the controlling part control all of the multipledifferent luminaires, including at least the first luminaire and thesecond luminaire after the controls are used to select the multipledifferent luminaires.
 11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the controloutputs are in an Artnet format over the network connection, and areconnected to the pan and tilt controlled luminaire to move the luminairein directions that are based on the first movement, second movement,third movement and fourth movement from the controlling part.
 12. Acontrol system operating for controlling simultaneously multipleremotely-located pan and tilt controllable luminaire, comprising: acontroller including controls to select multiple different luminaires tocontrol including at least a first luminaire and a second luminaire; thecontroller having a controlling part that receives movements to controlat least a first luminaire and a second luminaire, the controller beingremote from the luminaire, and where the controller recognizes a firstmovement for controlling a movement of at least a first luminaire and asecond luminaire in a first panning direction, a second movement forcontrolling movement of at least a first luminaire and a secondluminaire in a second panning direction opposite to the first panningdirection, a third movement for controlling a movement of at least afirst luminaire and a second luminaire in a first tilting direction, anda fourth movement for controlling movement of at least a first luminaireand a second luminaire in a second tilting direction opposite to thefirst tilting direction, where said the first movement, second movement,third movement and fourth movement from the controlling part control allof the multiple different luminaires, including at least the firstluminaire and the second luminaire after the controls are used to selectthe multiple different luminaires, the controller having a networkconnection, connected to a network to which the at least a firstluminaire and a second luminaire are also connected, the controllercreating electrical outputs on the network connection indicative of thefirst movement, second movement, third movement and fourth movement fromthe controlling part, the controller having a light parametercontroller, that receives controls from a user that control parametersof output of the luminaires, including at least brightness of theluminaires, and produces outputs over the network connection indicativeof the parameters of output of the luminaires from the light parametercontroller.
 13. The system as in claim 12, further comprising a displaypart receiving video information that shows a display including aposition which the luminaires are illuminating, and where the displaypart is adjacent to the controller and can be viewed from a sameperspective from which the controller is accessible, the display partchanging to show a corresponding movement of the luminaires as thecontrolling part is moved, and to show a brightness change of output ofthe luminaires based on said controls from said light parametercontroller.
 14. The system as in claim 12, wherein the controller isshaped to have a yoke shaped portion that is movable and a head shapedportion which is movable relative to the yoke.
 15. The system as inclaim 14, further comprising a display part receiving video informationthat shows a display including a position which the luminaires areilluminating, wherein the display is attached to the head shapedportions and moves as the head shaped portion is moved.
 16. The systemas in claim 12, wherein the control outputs are in an Arcnet format overthe network connection, and are connected to the pan and tilt controlledluminaires to move the luminaires in directions that are based on thefirst movement, second movement, third movement and fourth movement fromthe controlling part.
 17. The system as in claim 12, wherein thecontrols from the user are used to control a pointing direction of thefirst luminaire, and the second luminaire is controlled to automaticallypoint at a same target as the controlled first luminaire.
 18. A remotecontroller for a remote light, comprising: a base; a movable controlpart, which has parts that are movable in both pan and tilt directions,said movable control part including a first handle that is pressed tomove in the pan direction and a second handle that move in a tiltdirection; movement encoding devices, sensing the movement of thecontrol part, and converting said movement to electronic signals; and anelectronic device, receiving a camera output from the controlled light,and sending a movement control output to the controlled light, saidmovement control output being based on said electronic signals from themovement encoding devices, and being in a format to control movement ofthe remote light, and the camera output providing a field of view of anarea of illumination of the light; and a display, operating to displaythe camera output.
 19. The controller as in claim 18, wherein saiddisplay is connected to the movable control part.
 20. The controller asin claim 19, wherein the display is connected to the movable controlpart via a hinging connection, and the display is viewable from anymoved location of the control part.
 21. The controller as in claim 20,wherein the movable control part is movable in two orthogonaldirections.
 22. The controller as in claim 18, further comprising atleast one control on a surface of the controller.
 23. The controller asin claim 22, wherein the movable control part includes a top surface,having a substantially flat surface, a bottom surface, connected to abidirectionally movable hinging part, said bidirectional hinging partbeing monitored by the movement encoders, and a plurality of sidesurfaces, extending between said top part and said bottom part, whereina first side surface, includes the first handle and a second sidesurface includes the second handle.
 24. The controller as in claim 23,wherein the first side surface is furthest from the display, and thesecond side surface is a surface adjacent said display.
 25. Thecontroller as in claim 18, wherein the controller automatically tracks aspecified item in the camera output.